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The baby, born with a predisposition to relate, is at the centre of psychoanalytic parent–infant psychotherapy as it is practised at the Anna Freud Centre. It is from this perspective that the book is written: the baby in relation to his primary carer and the baby’s communicative way, which is non-verbal, behavioural, body-based and directed at the ‘other’. In this review, I will focus on the innovative thinking and practice of psychoanalytic parent–infant psychotherapy and what is specific to this treatment modality with particular reference to transference, countertransference, creation of new meaning, relational experiences, ending and changes in technique.
The therapist acts as a new object for the baby, that is, engages physically with him in an embodied communication, for example, by stroking the infant’s torso in rhythm with her voice. The transference relationship to the therapist – both negative and
benevolent – is now recognised and verbalised and this fosters the link between the mother and her infant. The baby’s transference to the therapist is also addressed directly with the baby, for example, ‘You’re careful with me as you’re afraid I will disappear and not come back like [your Dad]’ (p. 40).
The book is divided into three sections and expands on the first edition (2010) with new topics, including research and changes in technique. The first section ‘The theory of psychoanalytic parent–infant psychotherapy’, includes four chapters with Angela Joyce beginning by stating that early care-giving experiences have a vital and life-long influence on the child’s emotional, social and cognitive development. Genetic research has now demonstrated the impact of both the environment and the quality of attachment that can mitigate genetic influences. Equally the exposure to trauma and violence affects the baby’s developing brain adversely. The baby’s evolving sense of self develops by complete dependency on a human person and his earliest experiences become encode